Gripping tool



v 1616121 1927' s. A. GRUBER GRIPPING TOOL 7 Filed April 15, 1925 W Ciw Patented Feb. 1, 1927 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL A. GRUBER, or VERONA, PENNSYLVANIA; ASSIGNOR EYA'IT M. omens, or venous, PENNSYLVANIA.

or ONE-HALF To GRIPPING TOOL.

Application filed April 13, 1925. Serial No. 22.734.

The object which -I have in view is the provision of a suitable tool by means of which objects may be grasped and removed from relatively inaccessible positions. us, for instance nuts are ,frequentlydropped down into the oil-pan of an automobile motor, and it is practically impossible io reach and grasp them with the fingers or with pinchers, pliers or like tools.

For this purpose I have invented a grasping tool which is provided at one end with a fixed jaw and a movablejaw, the latter being spring-pressed -toward the former. The spring jaw 'is opened by means of a rod which runs through the hollow stock of the tool and is spring-pressed away from the jaw-end of the tool, the connections being such that by compressing the spring the rod will be moved toward the jaw-end of the tool and the movable jaw will be forced open, but upon the relief of pressure on the spring the movable jaw will be iorced toward the fixed jaw and resiliently held in its closed position.

In the preferred embodiment of my de-' vice, the same spring is utilized-to hold the movable jaw in and to return it to its gripping position.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective of a tool embodying the principles of my present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail in section of the handle end of the tool, and Fig. 3 is a similar view of the jaw end of the tool.

The following is a detailed description of the drawings; I

1 represents a tubular stock which is made of suitable length for the purposes 1n view. At one end, the gripping end, the stock is reduced in exterior diameter to have slipped over the same the collar 2 which forms part of the fixed jaw member 3; The jaw member may be welded or otherwise secured to the stock. The jaw member is formed to provide the grasping jaw 4. The jaw member 3 is provided with a pair of twin lugs 5 carrying a cross pin 6 upon which is pivotally mounted the movable jaw member 7- having its outer end formed as a jaw 8 adapted to coact with the fixed jaw 4 for grasping purposes. The jaw member 7 is provided with an integral or rigidly attached crank arm 9 which depends through a slot into the hollow interior of the jaw member3. The end of the crank arm 9 is connected to the butt end of the operating rod 10, as by'having the end of said rod screwed into a threaded hole in said arm. The rod 10 extends through the bore of the stock 1 and is longitudinally slidable therein.

11 is a cylindrical sleeve slidably mounted on the handle end of the stock 1- and .has its inner end turned to fit thestock. 12 is a helical spring having its inner portion fixed as at 13 to the stock 1 and wound about the end thereof. The outer .end of the spring 12 is wound about the cylindrical block 14 which is head 15.

The handle end of the rod 10 protrudes from the handle end of the stock 1 and extends through an axial bore in the block 14. A cotter pin 16 through the extremity of the rod 10 prevents the block moving off the end of the rod. The block 14 is norprovided with an enlarged circular mally spaced away from the end of the stock for the outer end of the rod 10, the spring 12 and the block 14.

18 is a finger bar rigidly mounted on the stock l-adjacent to its handle end.

It is evident that if the finger her be grasped by the fingers and the palm of the hand be pressed against the cap 17, the spring 12 will'becompressed and the rod 10 moved longitudinally toward the jaw end of the stock, thus oscillating the member 7 on its axis and moving the jaw 8 away from the jaw 4, so that the jaws may be positioned on either side of the article, such as a nut,

to be grasped. If the compression on the spring 12 is then relieved, the spring expands, thus spring-closing the jaw 8 and causing the jaws to grasp the article and hold it with a resilient grip until the jaw 8 is again opened by pressing on the cap 17.

In the smaller sizes the tool may be operated with one hand as above described, but the principle may also be embodied in larger tools which will require one hand to hold the stock and the other to press in the cap.

It is evident with a stock long enough to reach, nuts or other articles which could not be reached with the fingers or hand or even with'the pliers, pinchers or tongs in general.

' a stationary Ina graspin tool for the urpose described, the combination of a tu ular stock,

aw rigidly attached to one end of the stock, a movable jaw pivotally mounted on the stationary aw andadapted to coact therewith, an operating rod slidablv mounted within said stock and connected at one end to said movable jaw, said rod projecting beyond the stock at the opposite end and PI'OVIdBd with. an enlarged head, an

expansible spring encircling the tubular stock at one end and fixedly secured thereto,

the opposite end of said spring abutting against the enlarged head on the projecting end of the operating rod, a cylindrical sleeve eratmg rod.

Signed at Verona, Pa. this 28 day of March, 1925.

SAMUEL A. GRUB'ER. 

